Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid put up a jaw-dropping 50 points in the win against the Chicago Bulls. Embiid has been making his case for MVP all season, as evidenced by his 50-spot, along with 17 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals.
In the five NBA seasons Embiid has played for the Sixers, this season has been Embiid's best by far. Averaging 29.7 points and 10.8 rebounds, he has helped the team reach the top of the Eastern Conference with an impressive record of 20-10. In the quest to potentially winning 50 games, Embiid will have to continue to pull tricks out of a bag no one knows the answers to. According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, Embiid attributes his success this season to the variety of skills he employs to get to the basket, as defenders are left guessing when guarding him:
“That's what makes me unguardable,” Embiid said of his diverse offensive skills. “If you're going to crowd me, I'm going to find my way to the free throw line or I'm going to end up at the basket. If you back up on me, I've got the hesi — that hesitation shot — and my favorite, just pull-up shot. [That's] just an easy shot I always get in the post.
So it's hard [to stop me] when you've got that much. And also off the dribble just dribbling the ball and just making things happen. I've been adding a lot to my game, and it's been working well.
The NBA has seen centers like Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, and more recently, Nikola Jokic, that can not only shoot but help open up the court with their passing and shooting skills. NBA fans will have no choice but to add Sixers star Joel Embiid to that list, as he continues to become a stronger passer and shooter every day.
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